Gauging instrument



Sept. 30, 1952 B. D. BROWN, JR

GAUGING INSTRUMENT Filed 001. e, 1949 INVENTOR. EHSH. ERnwN IR.

BY y l HTTURNE 5 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 2,611,968 o n GAUGING INSTRUMENT Basil D. Brown, J r., Sprngboro, Pa.

Application October 8, 1949, Serial No. 120,241

s claims. (c1. .as-169) This invention relates to a gauge and lay-out n instrumentk primarily for use in the tool room of a manufacturing establishment wherein productiontools, gigs, fixtures and other machine parts are produced, although the instrument is susceptible of advantageous use in other locations, such as laboratories, experimental departments, machine shops and other places.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved and novel gauging and lay-out instrument which can Vbe readily adapted for and employed in a variety of gauging and lay-out operations which may include the following illustrated operations: Squareness and radii inspection; vertical and horizontal measurements, squaring operations; height and surface gauging; comparing operations; bore depth and plane surface inspection set-ups; checking of location of bores and of diameters for concentricity; course or close lay-out and inspection and many other purposes. v

Another object is to provide a gauging and layout instrument which can be designated as a universal gauging and lay-out instrument in that the instrument is capable of being adapted to perform the wide variety of operations referred to and thus eliminates the necessity of the user having available a number of different types of gauging and lay-out instruments.

Another object is to provide an improved and novel gauging and lay-out instrument which is so designedV that aplurality of different gauging or lay-out tools can bemounted on the instrument and used as desired for various operations without interfering with each other and capable of being readily and selectively brought from an inoperative position into an operative position.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention which is to follow.

The invention contemplates a gauging and lay-out instrument which comprises an accurately formed base positionable on a surface plate and from which perpendicularly extends an accurately rformed columnwhich adjustably mounts a slide having an indexible and removable tool holder revolvable on an axis perpendicular to the column and capable of Vmounting a plurality of different gauging or .lay-out tools.

-The invention further contemplates the provision of cooperating means on the slide and the tool holder for positively locating and locking the latter in proper indexed positions. u

- The column of the instrument -Will be provided.V

z to the gauging or lay-out toolcarried 2 f with a proper measuring scale while the slide will carry Aa vernier cooperating with the scale to accurately determine the distancefrom the bottom of the base, i. e., the surfaceof thesurfaceplate rbyfthe holder and currently being used., n.; The column is also provided with a gsplined groove while the slide has an adjustable `keycoeoperating with said groove to maintain the proper relationship between the scaleiand themvernier and to prevent rotation of the slide on the column when the slide is not clamped to .the column and is movable longitudinally thereof. The column also slidably mounts a slide positioner which can be clamped to the column and which is connected to the slide by a micrometer screw andnut and provides for fine adjustment of the. slide Von the column. j

An embodiment ofthe inventionis illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gauging yan lay-oufl instrument embodying the invention..

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary. elevational view ofthe instrument on a larger scale thanv Fig. 1L and showing a portion of the column, the slide, the

slide positioner and the indexible tool .holder mounted on the slide with a plurality of different gauging and lay-out tools mounted in thestool station arms of the holder. v l Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2-but with por--A tions of the slide and tool holder shownin'sec-v tion and with certain of the tools shown in Fig.. 2 omitted, While the slide is shown in a different' relative positionv with respect to the slide '.posi. tioner than in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan and sectional view taken-substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. 3 looking 'in the direction of the arrows, and l .Y r

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view throughthe slide and adjustable key carried thereby. l The base of the instrument is indicated at i0 and is shovvn,.in this instance, ras of rectangular configuration and preferably is formed rof castor machined steel. The underside of the base is accurately machined to correspond to the Vtop surface of a surface plate ofthe type generally available for use with instrumentsof this type;-V

In order to provide proper weight for the base it may be hollowed from its bottom surface, which also has the advantage of reducing thearea ofthe bottom surface that contacts the surface-plate and thus avoiding probable errors.

All of the sidesof the base IDfare machined tov be right angle surfaces with respectto adjacent sides and also to be parallel to master block 3 gauges which may be placed against the sides of the base.

The column is indicated at II and may be formed of tool steel tubing or rod suitably hardened, machined and ground throughout its length. The column II shown herein is illustrated as of tubing and its outside circumference is accurately machined for concentricity and parallelisml the fullllength of the column.

The column It is'mounted on the base I0 so as to be accurately perpendicular thereto. The interconnection between the column I I and the base I may take various forms, one illustrative form being to provide the base III with a'suitable opening and on its hollowed underside with a boss into which the lower end of the column-has an accurate pressed t. The column II is provided throughout its length with a spline groove I2 and substantially 90 from the groove witha longitudinally extendscale =I3, herein illustrated as calibrated in inches and-.fractions thereof, it being understood thatlfit' might be. calibrated in metric or other forms .of. measurements. .The 'scale I3 is so arranged and calibrated that when the slide, latertobe referred to, is `in its lowermost position with the zero mark of the slidetcarried. vernier at the zero mark of the scale, then the underside of the feeler gauge or toolrsliown` in Fig.. l will be level with the bottom ofxthe base II) and contact the upper surface of the; usual; surface plate.

AThe column .I I, as stated, is preferably formed oftubingso it can be ymounted between centers (.thezend .openings of the column being beveled forrthispurpose). and. used as a test rod to test the alignment of the centers.

The open upper end of the column II iis internally .threaded and is normally closed by a screw cap I4 Iwhich also functions as a stop for the upward. movement of the slide positioner and slide...

...The slide comprises a'body I5 provided. with albore through which the column extends so that the. slide 1can have accurate sliding vmovement on. the :,column; The body .I5 is provided at its rear endzwith a vslot I6 extending radially with respect toxthe bore through the body and providing spring clamp arms I'I and i8 for clampingthe slide to thefcolumn. The varms I'I and I8 are provided with aligned clearance. and threaded openings therethrough, respectively. A clampingcrew I9 is rotatably mounted in the openings and is provided with a knurled` operating head 20.

When the screw I9 is backed` oif the slide I5 is'free to slide on the column` II but preferably the screw' will be'loosened -onlysufciently to allow the slide to move on the. column with a frctional. drag.. When the screw [9 is tightened the slide is clamped to the column against vertical. sliding movement.

The slide or body I5 is provided on one side withfa window 2| and. has attached to it and within the' window a Vernier 22 which cooperates withthe scale I3 and can be observed through the window.; amagnifying glass being. placed over thefwindow if desired.

The body I5 inits upper side and adjacent its forwardend.fis. provided with a recess 23 from. which. 'laterally extends a slot 24. The recess 2li-forms a guideway for a sliding or adjustable key 25 which has a key projection engageable inthe spline groove I2. 'I'he key 25 is provided in. itsupper side with a'recess in which is located` theliead `.of aV lockingsscrew 26, the reduced threaded shank of which extends through a slot in the key and into a threaded opening in the body I5 (see Fig. 5), wherefore when the screw is loosened the key can be moved to position the key projection thereof in the spline groove I2 or to remove said projection from said groove. When the screw is tightened the key is clamped in desired position between the screw head and the bottom of the recess 23 in the slide I5. The key is provided rwith a laterally extendingv actuatingportionzl which projects outwardly of the lateral slot 24 in the body I5. It will be seen that when the key projection of the key 25 is engaged in the spline groove I2 and the screw 2S is screwed to key clamping position, then the slide islocked against rotation relative to the column .andthe Vernier 22 is properly located with respect to the scale. Of course when the screw 2.6 is loosened and the key 25 is moved to withdraw the projection from the spline groove then the slide can be rotated relative tothe column but in such case the Vernier will be displaced with respect to the scale.

The. front end of the carriage or body I5 centrally of the body is provided with. a tapered bearing projection or nose 28 which has a centrally .located threaded bore 29. The slide or body I5 on its upper side and above the nose. 28 is provided with an upwardly extending lugBI'I having therein an opening in which an index pin 3I-is slidably mounted. The purpose of thev nose 28 and'index pin 3| willlater be explained.

The slide positioner is indicated at -32 and comprises a clamp member having an opening therethrough so that the member can slide on the column II. The memberA 32 is provided with. a slot 33 vextending radially of the opening just mentioned and furnishing the slide positioner with separated arms 34 and 35 provided with suitable aligned clearance and threaded openings for a clamping screw 36 which can be tightened to draw the arms together and clamp the slide positioner in a desired location on the column or can be loosened to allow separation of said arms. for Amovement of the slide postioner longi-- tudinally or rotationally of the column.

TheV slide positionerY 32 .also has a `slot 37 at right angles to the opening through the positioner and forming a forked portion, the arms of which are provided with aligned clearance openings to receive a micrometerv screw 38. An adjusting nut 39 is mounted on the micrometer screw-3S intermediate the arms of the forked portion of the positioner. The'micrometer screw 38 extends vertically and parallel to the column II and is rigidly connected at its lowerend .to the slide Is.

It will be evidentV that when'the positioner 32 is clamped to the column II rotation ofthe nut 39 will elfect a micrometer adjustment of the slide I5 upwardly'or downwardly of the column relative to the positioner, wherefore the' slide can be accurately located by means ofthe Vernier andscale at a predetermined distance above the surface plate on which-the `base IIJ isresting.

The tool holder Acomprises a central hubportion 40 from which radially .project aplurality-of tool arms, there being Vshown in this instance for purposes of illustration four such arms, namely, 4I, 42, 43 .andl 44, equally displaced around'the h ub with adjacent armsv at rightangles'tofeach other. y

The hub 40 is -providedwithia taperedfborej fitting the taperedubearingA nose 28;of the.D slide so as to provide clearance between the rearside of the tool holder and .the front end of the. slide. The tool holder when mounted on the nose 28 can be rotated or indexed with respect to the slide and can be clamped in indexed position by means of a clamping screw 45 screwed into the threaded opening 29 in the nose and provided with a shouldered knurled operating head 46 accessible from the front side of the tool holder.

It will be seen that when the screw 45 is tightened the shouldered head 45 will act onthe front face of the-tool holder to force the tapered opening in the tool` holder tightly onto the tapered nose 23 thus accurately locating the tool holder with respect to the slide. Y

Each arm of the tool holder is provided with an opening 41 adapted to align with the locking pin 3| carried by the lug 30 of the slide, wherefore the tool holder can be positively and accurately located in its different indexed positions by engagement of the pin 3| in a particular opening 41, after which the tool holder may be locked in its indexed position by the screw 45. The index pin A3| while preferably carried by the slide, as shown, may be inserted through the openings 41 and into the opening in the lug 3U from the front of the tool holder if desired. However, the illustrated arrangement has the advantage that the knurled head of the index pin 3| will engage the column to prevent the pin from being accidentally completely withdrawn from the opening in the lug 30.

The arm 4| of the tool holder is shown as provided at its outer end with a recess to receive the attaching shank of a feeler gauge 48 which gauge can be clamped to the arm by means of a suitable clamping screw extending through an opening in the shank of the feeler gauge and into a threaded opening in the arm 4|, the head 49a of such screw being shown in the drawing.

It will be noted that when the feeler gauge or scribing tool 48 is mounted as shown in the drawings the head of the screw 49a is countersunk with respect to the undersurface of the feeler gauge. Of course when the tool holder is indexed 180 the feeler gauge 48 can be mounted on the arm 4| in the same way.

The arms 42, 43 and 44 of the tool holder are provided adjacent their outervends, respectively, with openings 49, 5B and 5| of differing diameters and also with longitudinal slots 52, 53 and 54 extending, respectively, frorn the openings 49, 50 and 5| longitudinally of the arms to the outer ends thereof.

Each of the arms 42, 43 and 44 is provided adjacent its outer end with aligned clearance and threaded openings to receive clamping screws, the knurled heads of which are indicated at 55, it being understood that when these screws are tightened the slotted ends of the arms will be drawn together to clamp a suitable tool in the openings 49, 50 and 5| as the case may be.

A scriber tool 56 is shown in Fig. 2 clamped in the opening 5| of the arm 44 of the tool holder while a dial feeler gauge 51 is illustrated as having its attaching shank clamped in the opening 50 of the arm 43.

It will be understood that an additional gauge or lay-out tool can be similarly clamped in the opening 49 of the arm 42. The various gauging or lay-out tools mounted in the arms of the tool holders can be so arranged that they may be separately used upon proper indexing of the tool holder without interference with each other,

6 a variety 'of diiferent" gaugingand lay-outpera-l tions, vsimply by-indexingthe tool holder.- i.

By way. of example it will be observed lth'atth feeler gauge .48: can. `be 'employed to check :the height of a surface abovethe lsurfacerplatewhile theY Scriber. 56 can be'use'd for scribing lines for lay-out purposes. Also it will be understood that the dial feeler gauge 51 can-be employed to check parallelism with respectto the `surface plate. lIt will further be understood that bymountinga suitable articulated dial feeler gauge in one of the arms of the tool holder the concentricity of a bore or of an external cylindrical surface can be checked'bythe instrument.

The clamping screw 45 may be provided beyond the knurled operating head 461With an extended bar 58 (see Fig. 3) upon which various suitable gauges or tools can be mounted for still additional gauging or lay-out operations.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the `appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A gauging and lay-out instrument comprising a base having an undersurface adapted to cooperate with a surface plate and side surfaces adapted to cooperate with gauge blocks, a column carried by said base and extending perpendicularly of said undersurface, said column being provided with a scale and a splined groove both extending longitudinally thereof, a slide slidable longitudinally of said column and provided with means for clamping it in adjusted position thereon and with a window normally overlying said scale and with a Vernier located in said window and cooperating with said scale, said slide being provided with a recess, a key movably mounted in said recess and cooperating with said groove, said slide carrying a locking screw extending through a slot in said key and provided with a clamping head engageable with said key whereby said key may be moved to either groove engaging or disengaging position and locked in either position, said slide having a bearing nose extending in a direction transverse and perpendicular to said column, a tool holder having a hub portion indexibly mounted on said nose and a plurality of angularly displaced arms extending therefrom ina plane parallel to said column and provided with means for mounting thereon gauging or lay-out tools, and means carried by said nose and cooperating with said holder tfior locking said holder in various indexed posiions.

2. A gauging and lay-out instrument as defined in claim l and wherein said means for locating said tool holder in its various indexed positions comprises a lug on said slide and parallel to said column and provided with an opening that is perpendicular to said groove when said key is aligned with said groove, said arms of said tool holder each being provided with an opening adapted to be selectively aligned with said lug opening, and a pin carried by said lug opening and insertable into the aligned arm opening and provided with an actuating head located intermediate said lug and said column.

3. A gauging and lay-out instrument as defined in claim 2 and wherein said bearing nose of said slide is externally tapered and is provided with a central threaded bore while said hub portion of said tool holder is provided with a tapered bore wherefore the instrument can be employed for nterflttne Said 11056, and the means for locking mai-mes "Name y Date: 391,488 Sm1th. Oct.. 23, 1888 4W-6.8.0.6# Mauseir .Iune'14,.12892 liumber f liluizaberv 8 Nam@` Dala Jacabsz.; 33ept':22; 1931 Sorenson." Marl. .28.; 19.44

"FOREIGN PATENTS Cduntry Date Great Britain .1\/Ia,y.5I4 1894 Germany Feb. 15:1921

Germany Dec. 15m-1921 France.- ,-Oct. 26,. 1923 Germany Feb. 2'1, 1933 vFrance ..May-31,.1943

OTHERREFERENCES'- Publication: American; iviichinist.l sept. 1a, I5 194.5.,page133. 

